Step-by-step Windows 7 clean install

[drsky]

I finally installed Windows 7 (build 7100) on my japanese P91 yesterday and everything is working. For those of you who might be interested in a step-by-step guide, here is one.

Disclaimer:
1) This guide is specific to the japanese model (the WWAN module is Globetrotter, not Gobi). These instructions may have to be slightly altered for your particular hardware. At least, they work 100% on the japanese model that I own.
2) These instructions have been compiled based on different threads found on this forum and on others. Credits should go to their respective authors.

I. Prepping the drivers
1) Before installing Windows 7, download and install Universal Extractor http://legroom.net/scripts/download....e=uniextract16
2) Download the following drivers:

a. Instant mode 2.0.4 http://dlv.update.sony.net/pub/vaio/...0000191478.exe
b. Instant mode support utility 1.0.1.06080 ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SOOOTH-00186709-US.EXE
c. Vaio Control Center 3.3.1.06050 http://dlv.update.sony.net/pub/vaio/...0000185661.exe
d. Setting Utility Series 4.3.2.05260 http://dlv.update.sony.net/pub/vaio/...0000185658.exe
e. Globetrotter Connect (for Japanese version) http://www.option.com/en/support/software-download/
f. Alps Stickpointer for Vaio update 7.0.503.3 ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/ALDOTH-00176955-US.EXE
g. Intel GMA 500 driver http://downloadcenter.intel.com/conf...Name=&lang=eng
h. Vaio SmartNetwork 2.2.0.12210 ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/pub/Vaio/Ori....3.0.12210.ZIP

3) Download the following drivers and using Universal Extractor, extract them in folders:

a. Sony notebook Utilities 1.0 ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SOAOTH-49000000-US.EXE
b. Sony notebook Utilities 1.0.0.10080 ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SOAOTH-00165021-US.EXE
c. Sony Firmware Extension Parser Driver 8.0.0.1 ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SODOTH-00170550-US.EXE
d. Sony Programmable I/O Control Device Driver 8.0.0.1 ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SODSPI-00170551-US.EXE
e. Sony Shared Library 5.2.0.11241 ftp://download.sony.com/US/pc/SOASSL-00168687-US.EXE

4) Copy the downloaded files from step 2 and the folders containing the extracted archives from step 3 onto a USB stick

II. Installing Windows 7
5) Install Windows 7 RC (7100)
6) Disable UAC (Control Panel --> System and Security --> Change User Account Control Setting --> move slider to the bottom)
7) Copy the content of your USB stick on the desktop
8) Install the drivers/software packages in the following order, restarting the laptop when prompted (run the setup file as an administrator, using Vista SP1compatibility mode)

a. Intel GMA 500 video driver (Extract the archive in a folder, then go to Control Panel --> System and Security --> Device Manager --> Display Adapters --> right click on GMA 500 and click Update driver software --> Browse my computer --> Let me pick from a list --> Have disk --> browse to the folder LPCO located where you extracted the archive, and point to the file igdlh32.inf)
b. Instant mode 2.0.4
c. Instant mode support utility 1.0.1.06080
d. Vaio Control Center 3.3.1.06050
e. Setting Utility Series 4.3.2.05260
f. Sony notebook Utilities 1.0

This folder contains multiple folders:
BC (ISB Utility)
SUS (Setting Utilities Series) --> delete this folder
VCC (Vaio Control Center)--> delete this folder
VES2: Vaio Event Service
VPM: Vaio Power Management
Install in this order: 1) VES2 and 2) VPM and 3) ISB Utility by running the setup file in each folder as an administrator, using Vista SP1 compatibility mode)

g. Sony notebook Utilities 1.0.0.10080
h. Sony Firmware Extension Parser Driver 8.0.0.1
i. Sony Programmable I/O Control Device Driver 8.0.0.1
j. Sony Shared Library 5.2.0.11241
k. Globetrotter Connect (for Japanese version)
l. Alps Stickpointer for Vaio update 7.0.503.3

9) Turn on UAC
10) Install Vaio SmartNetwork 2.2.0.12040

III. Potential problems and fixes
If the battery is not recognized or an error message regarding the battery pops up after following these steps, reinstall ISButility (step 8f). If the error message still shows up, go to MSCONFIG, and uncheck ISBmgr.exe on the STARTUP tab.

IV. Restoring S2 “side-by-side” function
10) Open the notepad and type: CreateObject("Shell.Application").TileVertically
11) Save the file as .vbs file (e.g., tilevertically.vbs)
12) Place the file in the Windows folder
13) Open Vaio Control Center, and go to "Special Buttons", "S Button", and in the menu for the S2 button, select "Launch Application". Browse for the .vbs file created above.

[fffff]

THANKS drsky

[djwoody]

Many thanks for all your hard work and for sharing. I am due to get my P91 Jap model (same spec as yours) in a week or two and will deffo try this out.
How does the machine perform with Windows 7 compared to Vista?

[drsky]

I used Vista for about 3 weeks and I could immediately see a significant improvement with Windows 7. I haven't tried the video driver provided in 7 as I directly installed the updated driver from Intel. Videos (at least non HD) play really well even in full screen, something I could never experience with Vista.

[gonknoggin]

Originally Posted by drsky

I used Vista for about 3 weeks and I could immediately see a significant improvement with Windows 7. I haven't tried the video driver provided in 7 as I directly installed the updated driver from Intel. Videos (at least non HD) play really well even in full screen, something I could never experience with Vista.

At which point did you install the new GMA500 driver? Did it work right away with the description provided here in the forum?

Is Instant On mode also working?

[drsky]

I installed the new GMA driver first (before any other driver and before Instant Mode). I installed the driver "manually", following the instructions posted in the forum.

Instant Mode did not work immediately. I uninstalled it, reinstalled it, and it eventually worked.

My P is fully functional.

[gonknoggin]

Originally Posted by drsky

I installed the new GMA driver first (before any other driver and before Instant Mode). I installed the driver "manually", following the instructions posted in the forum.

Instant Mode did not work immediately. I uninstalled it, reinstalled it, and it eventually worked.

My P is fully functional.

Thanks, I will try my luck over the weekend.

[rocky212]

if its ok, can you give us the links to those drivers you mentioned. some people including myself are finding it difficult to locate specific drivers,

thanks

[drsky]

I edited the post with links. Hope that will work for you.

[gonknoggin]

@all: did you install the 32bit or 64bit Windows 7 version?

[drsky]

32 bit. I don't think the Atom would take the 64-bit version.

[Pyr3s]

I couldn't even see any advantage in that... Max 2GB of ram, and most of the sw natively 32bit...

[GeoffreyM]

Atom doesn't work with 64-bit.

[gonknoggin]

Just a quick update. Unfortunately I didn't get to it this weekend due to other commitments yet I will do the Windows 7 install sometime this week and will get back to you all with a short status report.

[sofauxboho]

Thanks so much, drsky! This is exactly what I was hoping for.

I followed your instructions with some small deviations (I'm on a US edition VGN-P588E/Q) and it all came together perfectly.

Windows 7 is running splendidly and is quite usable.

Now, on to Ubuntu!